Conor McGregor praises Mayo council for 'fair and well played' move against migrant cooperation

MMA fighter Conor McGregor has commended Mayo County Council for their decision to stop engaging with the Department of Integration in regards to asylum seekers and migrants. 

It comes after Mayo councillors passed a motion calling on local authority staff to immediately cease co-operation with the Department which was passed on Monday at the monthly meeting of the authority. 

In a post published on X (formerly Twitter), McGregor stated: "You cannot expect the communities of Ireland to tolerate this treatment any longer. The government must remember they are servants of the people not masters.

"The Mayo county council has now voted to cease cooperation with the Department of Integration in a demand for a full reassessment of government protocol on migration. A fair and well played move. Bravo Mhaigh Eo."  

The post has since been liked by 34,000 people. 

Tensions nationally have risen in recent months as the Government scrambles to find suitable accommodation for refugees and international protection applicants. 

Over 200 people gathered in Castlemacgarrett House and Estate near Claremorris last week over plans to house international protection applicants at the historic site. 

Responding to a Parliamentary Question in November 2023, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O'Gorman, confirmed the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is providing accommodation to 25,742 people seeking refuge in Ireland.

He also confirmed over 190 properties have been brought into use to accommodate IPAs. 

He stated: "There remains an acute shortfall with respect to accommodation, and IPPS is working to bring further properties into use to ensure that all those who arrive in Ireland seeking shelter can be accommodated." 

One thousand two hundred and eighty two IPAS are currently residing in Mayo, making it the county with the second highest number of IPAs outside of Dublin, preceded only by Donegal (1,533 people). 

McGregor also commented on recent ongoing protests at Racket Hall in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, which was planned as a residence for up to 160 asylum seekers. 

According to the Independent, a large Garda presence gathered at the site on Monday (January 15) in order to safely escort asylum seekers into the building. 

Clashes broke out between Gardaí and some protesters, videos of which have circulated on social media. 

Child asylum seekers and their families arriving by bus were reportedly "upset" after some protesters attempted to block their arrival to the hotel. 

Commenting on X, McGregor stated: "Sad scenes out of Roscrea. Ireland’s current systems in place around immigration showing to be not good for anyone. Not safe. Not sustainable. Children put in danger and not a peep out of government. Reform needed."